Unfit to be at Large: Women at OSH

Open June 2021 – May 2022

In 1920, the 19th Amendment was ratified giving women across the United States the right to vote. This was more than just a vote, it was one step along the path of gaining equal rights. Not Fit to be at Large: Women at OSH explores the experiences of women at the Oregon State Hospital from its opening in 1883 to 1920. Looking through the lens of this time period, we explore the significance women’s suffrage had on women in and outside of the Oregon State Hospital.

The exhibit features stories from various women who were committed to the Oregon State Hospital, what their treatment was like, and how their gender might have played a role in their care.